Jay Beatty

Jay Beatty (born December 23, 2003)[1] is a supporter and unofficial mascot of Celtic Football Club.[2]

Jay Beatty
Born	(2003-12-23) 23 December 2003[1] County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Known for	Supporter of Celtic F.C., Ambassador of [[Celtic FC special supporters Foundation (charity)|Celtic F. C. Foundation charity]]

He received worldwide attention thanks to the former Celtic player Giorgios Samaras and became an ambassador for the Celtic F. C. Foundation charity. He has become known as a 'superfan' and receives support and recognition from other football clubs and their fans.[3]

On 11 May 2014, he was picked up by Samaras and carried around the pitch in front of 52,400 supporters at Celtic Park. Beatty stayed with Samaras while Samaras gave his interviews, and Beatty lovingly rubbed Samaras' beard.[4] Celtic manager Neil Lennon gave Beatty (then 10 years old) his League Winners medal.[5] Beatty was born with Down syndrome.

Celtic involvement

In July 2013, before a Champions League qualifier match in Belfast against Cliftonville, Beatty was invited to join Celtic on the team bus after training with them that day. He sang "Hail Hail the Celts are here" with the first team players.[4]

In January 2015 Beatty also received a Christmas present from Celtic's opponents Hamilton Academical Football Club, and was invited to watch the two teams play. At half time, he was invited onto the pitch and was given the chance to take a penalty. Beatty scored and celebrated with both sets of fans. Beatty's goal at Hamilton was later included in the SPFL's "Goal of the Month" contest.[6] He received 97% of all votes, beating all the professional players nominated for goals in the same month (January 2015). He was advised that he had won by Georgios Samaras, via a video link from Saudi Arabia where Samaras currently plays for Al Hilal.[7]

On December 23, 2015, he CLreceived a video that included birthday wishes from past and present Celtic players (Nadir Çiftçi, Carlton Cole, James Forrest, Kieran Tierney, Stefan Johansen, Emilio Izaguirre, Craig Gordon, Dedryck Boyata, Paul Byrne, Bobby Petta and Harald Brattbakk) and the Celtic management team of Ronny Deila, John Collins and John Kennedy.[1]

Other recognition

He has had two songs written for and about him, as well as social media pages dedicated to him. "Wee Jay Celtic Bhoy" was written and performed by Jim Scanlon[8] of the Celtic band Charlie and the Bhoys and went into the "Easy Listening Top 100" Charts on iTunes. "Little Jay" was written and performed by Patrick McDaid[9][10][11] and reached Number 1 on the same iTunes "Easy Listening " Charts.

Awards

• Humanity and Sensitivity Award (Athens) In a letter to Martin Beatty, the Greek Sports Journalists' Association today said: "This year our association has decided to honour the friendship between your son Jay and George Samaras, for the message of humanity and sensitivity which they sent worldwide. The event was televised live to the Greek nation".[12]
• Spirit of Northern Ireland Award Won the 2015 Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards, in association with Specsavers. At a ceremony at the Culloden Hotel, the 11-year-old collected a £1,000 prize which had been donated by Peninsula Care Services. X Factor judge Louis Walsh, together with Specsavers’ Tony McGinn and Sunday Life’s editor presented Jay with the Award.[13]
• Crowned Sporting Hero at the Scottish Daily Record Our Heroes Awards. 2015. He was joint winner with Maria Lyle and they were crowned joint Sporting Heroes.[14]
• Invited to BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award held in Belfast in 2015.[15]
• Attended the 67th Grand Gala of El Mundo Deportivo where he accepted the Sports human feat award on behalf of George Samaras.[16]
• Appointed an Ambassador for Celtic F.C.[15]

Personal life

Beatty is involved with the Charity Down's & Proud which his parents set up to help educate parents of children with Downs Syndrome in 2013.[17] He lives in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

References

1. Fraser Glen (23 December 2015). "Celtic stars and fans send birthday wishes to super fan Jay Beatty". Daily Record.
2. "Wee Jay faithful through and through". Celtic F.C. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
3. "Dad of Celtic Superfan Jay Beatty". Daily Record. Glasgow. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
4. "Jay Beatty". Celticnewsnow. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
5. "Georgios Samaras thanks County Armagh boy for 'strength and support'". BBC News. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
6. "11-year-old Celtic fan ... 20 February 2015". The Independent. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
7. "Eleven year old Celtic fan wins Scotland's goal of the month 20 Feb 2015". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
8. "Wee Jay (The Celtic Bhoy)". ITunes Preview. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
9. "Celtic Superfan Jay Beatty's ... 20 Feb 2015". Daily Recond. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
10. "Jay's song hits top of iTunes chart". Lurgan Mail. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
11. "Helpful package aims to ease the pressure on new mums and dads and give positive and helpful advice to help their new life" (online). www.lurganmail.co.uk. Lurgan Mail. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
12. ""Wee Jay" and his idol Georgios Samaras ..." ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
13. "Jay Beatty : Overall Spirit of Northern ... 28 June 2015". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
14. "Jay is crowned 'Sporting Hero' ... 21 May 2015". Lurgan Mail. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
15. "Jay Beatty invited to Sports Personality of the Year Awards 8 October 2015". LurganMail. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
16. "Pulse". Linkedin. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
17. "Jay and his family are 'Downs and Proud' 19 March 2013". LurganMail. Retrieved 5 August 2016.

External links

• Jay Beatty on Facebook